War Powers Act co-author against strike

The former congressman says Obama shouldn't act without Congress's approval.

By JAMES ARKIN | 9/9/13 3:01 PM EDT

Former Republican Illinois Congressman Paul Findley, one of the authors of the War Powers Act of 1973, said he opposes military action in Syria and said President Barack Obama does not have the authority to act without Congressional approval.

Findley, a World War II veteran who spent 22 years in the House, said he generally opposes war, and does not support military involvement in Syria regardless of the outcome votes in Congress.

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“I don’t think any act of war should ever be considered a small item that potentially gets us involved in a larger conflict,” Findley told POLITICO. “No matter what Congress says, the president should not order an act of war.”

Though Obama asked for Congressional approval for action in Syria, the president said that he had the authority to carry out this military action without a vote in Congress. Findley said he did not think Obama had that power because the situation in Syria is not a crisis for the U.S. Findley said he was “very pleased” Congress was given time to debate the issue.

“If he felt he had to do something before there would be time to get the Congress to debate and settle their position on war powers, he would be able to do it but it would be very limited,” Findley told POLITICO. “This is not such a situation. He himself determined that it was not an emergency. He permitted the Congress to finish their vacation no problem.”